Mr. Davis was born to Howard and Lily Davis on Feb. 7, 1925, in Coolidge, Kan. He was one of nine children. He grew up in Coolidge and attended Coolidge schools. When World War II started, he dropped out of school to enlist in the Army but was told to go back and farm because that was important for the war effort.

In his late teens and early 20s, Mr. Davis worked on the family farm – harvesting wheat and milo and tending to cattle, sheep and race horses. The Davis family then moved to a ranch on Butte Creek in the eastern plains of Colorado. Mr. Davis continued to tend cattle and farm grains.

He met his future wife, Donna Davis, after moving to Colorado. The couple married on Jan. 2, 1948, in Raton, N.M.

In 1967, the Davis family moved to a ranch in the Durango area near the Florida River. For the next 13 years, they grew hay. In 1979, Mr. Davis retired, and the family moved to Bayfield.

Throughout his life, Mr. Davis enjoyed four-wheeling, hunting, horseback riding, reading and playing and watching basketball. He played on a town team called “K&B” from 1967 to 1977.

Mr. Davis is survived by his wife of 64 years, Donna Lee Davis, of Bayfield; sons Denten Davis and Michael Davis, both of Bayfield, Dallas Davis of Ignacio, Darin Davis of Elizabeth and Leland Davis of Rock Springs, Wyo.; daughter, DeEtte Hobden, of Lamar; sister, Edna Belle Cook, of Johnson, Kan.; 15 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended family members.

A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at Pine River Cemetery.